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Santa Cruz De La Sierra Travel Guide

Commonly known as Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia was
founded in 1560 by Spanish conquistador Ñuflo de
Chávez. In contrast to many cities in Bolivia, Santa Cruz is
a mere 1,365 feet (416m) above sea level and enjoys a tropical
environment that makes it an ideal break from the often harsh
conditions of the Andes. Many travellers visit Santa Cruz only as a
transit destination, as flights to Bolivia have an easier time
landing there than navigating the mountains around La Paz. Santa
Cruz is a fascinating travel destination in its own right,
however.

A traditionally wealthy city through railroads and oil refining,
downtown Santa Cruz is a pretty area with many shops, restaurants
and museums. Strolling through town is a great way to take in the
beautiful colonial architecture, evident in the numerous
cathedrals; and both locals and tourists take advantage of the
idyllic climate to gather in the Plaza 24 de Septiembre to play
chess, feed the pigeons, or sip a glass of wine at an outdoor
cafe.

The city is known as the fashion capital of Bolivia, and
locally-made clothing is a popular Santa Cruz souvenir. Its
cosmopolitan ambience extends to art galleries, museums, discos and
restaurants, which offer the widest selection in Bolivia.

The convenience and comfort of Santa Cruz makes it an ideal base
to explore some of the most popular attractions in Bolivia,
including Park Amboro, and the historical Jesuit missions. There
are also daily flights to La Paz, or (decidedly less comfortable)
buses available.

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Tour operator G.A.P Adventures has for the past 14 years
specialised in unique, small group, grassroots adventure travel
experiences in the world's most wild places, going off the beaten
track into the heart of the destination to meet the locals who call
it home. G.A.P. Adventures offers several expeditions to the
Bolivian Amazon and Andes.

Intrepid Travel, one of the world's leading suppliers of small
group adventures, focuses on getting off the beaten track,
interacting with the locals and having real life experiences
throughout Bolivia.